{
  "id": 7756651,
  "title": "Mali: One Man's Quest to End Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Mali",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/mali-one-mans-quest-to-end-female-genital-mutilation-fgm-in-mali-7756651",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T09:39:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "AllAfrica",
    "slug": "allafrica",
    "url": "https://allafrica.com/stories/202609160173.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mali's Sidi Haidara, a community leader, once defended female genital mutilation (FGM) as a cultural tradition. However, after participating in UN Women-led trainings, he now advocates for ending the practice, stating that no tradition should harm a girl's health, rights, or future. FGM is prevalent in Mali, with nine out of ten women and girls having undergone the procedure. Despite no specific laws criminalizing it, some men launch pro-FGM campaigns. Haidara leads community dialogues to encourage families to protect girls' rights and abandon the practice, fostering conversations around the issue and promoting change.",
  "summary": "[IPS] United Nations -- After years of defending FGM as a cultural practice, Sidi Haidara came to a realization: No tradition should come at the expense of a girl's health, rights, or future.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "AllAfrica Health",
        "title": "Mali: One Man's Quest to End Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Mali",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/mali-one-mans-quest-to-end-female-genital-mutilation-fgm-in-mali",
        "published": "2026-09-16T09:39:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}